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Asthma allergies

Condition Overview:

Allergy is a serious and increasing problem but our understanding of these problems has increased enormously over the past 20 years. Therefore one can be very optimistic about the outlook for allergy sufferers these days and there is no need to be over-concerned if you have an allergy.

With allergy we experience an altered reactivity. Allergy is one of a series of immunological defences that our body has to protect us against bacteria, viruses or parasites. Unfortunately, this protection sometimes harms us as well. Then we get allergies. Allergens are the substances that may cause these reactions. Examples are pollens from trees, grasses and weeds, animal allergens from cats or dogs, house-dust and especially house-dust mites, insects parts and insect stings, food additives, fungal spores and even certain medicines such as aspirin or penicillin.
 

We make contact with these allergens by breathing, eating and touching them. Once in the body the allergens encounter mast cells and other specialised cells. These cells belong to a group of cells that act as soldiers of the body's immune system. They line the areas of our bodies that are in contact with the outside world, the skin, nose, lungs and digestive systems. The surface of mast cells are covered with specific antibodies called IgE (Immunoglobulin E). When a mast cell encounters an allergen such as house-dust mite and has the specific IgE for this allergen on its surface, a series of complex biochemical reactions occur within the mast cell. This will result in the secretion of granules containing chemicals such as histamine. These chemicals known as "mediators" are the substances which cause allergic damage, especially swelling and inflammation. It is now recognised that in the majority of asthma sufferers, certainly in virtually all children, the inflammation of the lining membrane of the airways is caused by an allergic reaction. Other factors such as viral infections, exposure to pollutants, cigarette smoke, mist and cold air and certain forms of exercise may also provoke the same reaction and result in airway inflammation. Certain occupations carry an increased risk for adult asthmatics. These include bakers, veterinary surgeons, spray painters and wood- workers.

There are several ways to determine whether a person with asthma is allergic. This is usually through the doctor taking a careful history, conducting a screening test (Phadiatop) and then doing skin tests or blood tests (RAST) to find out which allergens are affecting the sufferer.